WUPJ - February 2004

The World Union for Progressive Judaism 
UNION FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS FOR MODERN JUDAISM IN RUSSIA
RELIGIOUS UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM IN UKRAINE
RELIGIOUS UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM IN BELARUS


FSU DIGEST 2003

EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES IN 
PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES


For the first time in the history of Progressive Judaism in FSU the congregations all over Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have approached the High Holidays with the new makhzor. The book, “Kavanat ha-lev” (“The intentions of the soul”) was produced by the World Union for Progressive Judaism. It incorporates the full services for Rosh-ha-Shana and Yom-Kippur and added anthology of traditional and modern Jewish thought and literature.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

In September 2003 near Moscow was held an annual leadership conference for the activists of Progressive Jewish congregations from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. More than 100 people, representing 70 FSU congregations were present on the conference. This year, the conference, for the first time, had three tracks – one for the congregational chair people, one for the community workers and second year Machon students and one – for the Netzer activists. Associate Director of the WUPJ rabbi Joel Oseran, Financial Director Todd Warnick and activists of the progressive movement Jimmy and Sue Clau from Puerto Rico were also present during the conference.

EDUCATION

In June of 2003 Machon – The Institute for Modern Judaism (situated in Moscow) has had a graduation ceremony. 10 people graduated with the diplomas of community workers after two years of studies and 12 more people has finished their first year of studies and went on to the congregations throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland to begin their second year of practical community work. In September 2003 12 new students from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Lithuania has started their first year of studies in Machon.
The Moscow office of the World Union for Progressive Judaism has developed the new program for the professional development of the Machon graduates. The program, which was launched in September 2003, includes a monthly electronic newsletter for the community workers in FSU, regular professional development meetings and seminars and one-to-one coaching and mentoring. 

NETZER

In May of 2003 44 Netzer activists from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine participated in the weeklong trip to Poland and Czech Republic. The trip was organized by the World Union for Progressive Judaism and Netzer Olami. The participants on the trip, which was led by the Jerusalem-based coordinator of the Netzer activities in FSU, Alexander Kagan, has visited the sights which are related to the rich history of the East European Jewry and to the Holocaust. The trip was an important step in developing the group identity and strengthening the Jewish knowledge among the Netzer coordinators and activists throughout the FSU.


RUSSIA

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

During the Biannual Convention of the Union for Reform Judaism in Minneapolis, in November 2003 the Union for Organizations for Modern Judaism in Russia has received a wonderful gift from the Reform Jewish community in Argentina – the Torah scroll that was written in Ukraine in the beginning of the XX century and then brought to Argentina by the Russian Jewish immigrants. This gift is another prove of the strong ties that unite the members of Reform Jewish community worldwide.

Rabbi Alexander Lyskovoy, the graduate of Leo Baeck College in London, who received his rabbinical ordination in July 2003, has become a rabbi of the St.Petersburg Congregation for Progressive Judaism in August 2003. With the arrival of Rabbi Lyskovoy the Union of the Congregations for Modern Judaism in Russia hopes to create an attractive and innovative community and educational programming which will help to establish even stronger Progressive presence in the Jewish community of this second-largest Russian city.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

During 2003 Union of Organizations for Modern Judaism in Russia (OROSIR) has held six seminars for the developing leadership of the small communities in Russia. These seminars were implemented due to the special grant that was received by OROSIR from the L.A. Pincus Fund for Jewish Education in Diaspora.
More then 150 youth leaders participated in the seminars that were held both for the Central Russia, Ural and Siberia regions. The programs of study combined both leadership training and lectures on Jewish history, tradition and culture. Young people enriched their knowledge about the beliefs and practices of Progressive Judaism and some of them went on to work as counselors in Progressive Jewish camps throughout the year. This program is scheduled to continue in year 2004 as well.

EDUCATION

Pupils of Moscow kindergarten “Shemesh” of the Union of the Religious Organizations of Modern Judaism in Russia (which was established using a grant from the L.A.Pincus Fund for Jewish education in Diaspora) has participated in the opening ceremony of the 7th Moscow Festival of Jewish Arts “Light the Candle”. Children, under the leadership of kindergarten director, graduate of Machon, Tamara Arutunova, have sung a medley of Hebrew and Yiddish songs.

In 2003 the Union for Religious Organizations for Modern Judaism in Russia has started the program of the educational seminars, organized with the generous help from the grant of the Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund. The seminars are helping the leadership and members of the Reform Jewish congregations in Russia to acquire the deeper knowledge of Jewish culture, traditions and practices. This program is scheduled to continue in year 2004 as well.

In 2003 more than ten Progressive Congregations in Russia have organized the ceremonies of bar and bat-mitzvah. These ceremonies were held after the course of study, during which children learned Hebrew, cantillation skills and acquired deeper knowledge on Jewish history and traditions. All together more than 80 children have participated in the ceremonies, which have become a cause for celebration not only for the progressive congregations, but also for the citywide Jewish community. This program was established with the financial assistance of Jewish Community Development Fund in Russia and Ukraine.

FESTIVALS

The Pesach celebrations in Russia have been especially joyous this year. In Moscow, Rabbi Gregory Kotlyar and Cantor Dmitry Karpenko have conducted a Seder for the participants and guests of the community programs in the JDC cultural center “Nikitskaya”. Among the participants were famous Russian businessman Leonid Nevzlin and head of JDC in Russia Shmuel Kessler with families.
However, six progressive Jewish communities outside of Moscow also enjoyed the Sedarim and educational activities that were conducted by the rabbinical, educational and cantorial students of HUC-JIR (Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion). This pilot project, which also took place in the congregations in Ukraine and Belarus, has proved to be so successful that we are awaiting an even bigger group in year 2004.
The added feature to the Pesach of 2003 in FSU was an arrival of the long-awaited filmed Russian-Hebrew guide to the Pesach Seder. The 45-minite film shows and explains the Seder and all the Pesach customs. It was aimed to help Russian speakers understand and participate in the Passover rituals.

Yom-Kippur service in Moscow Congregation for Progressive Judaism was attended not only my the members of community and guests, but also my the members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Moscow, including the Ambassador of the State of Israel Arkady Mil-Man and the Ambassador of the United States of America Alexander Vershboy with families.

NETZER

In addition to already existing activities and clubs of the Netzer – Reform Zionist Youth, we have opened a number of the new clubs, including one in Tula (Moscow region). New project – the FSU Netzer virtual quiz on the knowledge of Tanach has also been launched in September 2003. Participating clubs receive every month the commentaries on the weekly Torah portions and, after studying and discussing them, they answer a questions that they also receive via Internet. The best clubs will participate in the final that will take place in Moscow in May 2004.

CONGREGATIONS

The congregational activities in Russia have been expanding and developing in 2003. Currently OROSIR has more than 30 congregations in Russia. In addition to Kabbalat Shabbat, celebrating Jewish festivals and educational activities many congregations develop innovative programs that are geared towards bringing into the congregation Jewish people of different ages and backgrounds. For example, Tumen Congregation for Progressive Judaism “Madregot” (Siberia region) has created a klezmer band and a youth theatre group that is producing plays based on the stories from Torah and Midrash. Barnaul (Siberia) Congregation for Progressive Judaism has organized a Jewish dance group, which performs all over Siberia. Tula (Central Russia) Congregation for Progressive Judaism “Hatikva” has organized a creative writing workshop for children and teenagers, where they study traditional and modern Jewish literature and write fiction and poetry. Ryazan (Central Russia) Congregation for Progressive Judaism has become a base for the city’s interfaith activities and has organized a number of seminars on the subject.
Chelyabinsk (Ural region) Congregation for Progressive Judaism “Ani ve-ata” was a first congregation in Russia to organize and implement programs for the disabled children, including a family camp. 
COMMUNITY WORKERS

Two new community workers have joined the cadre of para-professionals that are working in Russia. Anatoly Lvovich is working in Tula Congregation for Progressive Judaism “Hatikvah” (Central region) and Vyacheslav Bolotnikov – in Ryazan Congregation for Progressive Judaism. Vyacheslav is also a new editor-in-chief of the FSU magazine for Progressive Judaism “Rodnick” (“The Source”).


UKRAINE

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

In 2003 the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine and Kiev Congregation for Progressive Judaism “Hatikva” opened a new Community Center for Progressive Judaism, which incorporates religious services, Sunday Family school, youth club “Netzer” and adult education programs. The new Center has immediately become a focal point for different Progressive Jewish activities and a wonderful addition to the array of Jewish community and educational activities, which is available for the Jewish population of Kiev.

Two Torah scrolls were donated in 2003 to the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine. Lvov (Western Ukraine) congregation for Progressive Judaism has received a Torah scroll due to the generosity of the Temple Israel (Long Beach, California). Sevastopol (Crimea region) congregation for Progressive Judaism has received a Torah scroll from their twinned congregation, Southgate Reform Synagogue in London. Both scrolls have been given to the congregations in the course of the festive ceremonies, in which the city Jewish community has also participated.

EDUCATION

During 2003 two regions in Ukraine – Crimea and Cherkassy (Central Ukraine) has held a bna’i-mitzvah ceremonies which incorporated not only the bar and bat-mitzvah students, but also their parents and members of the progressive congregations of the regions. Both ceremonies included almost 30 celebrants. Representatives of the twinned congregation from Great Britain also took place in the ceremonies.

In 2003 the Union for Religious Organizations for Modern Judaism in Ukraine has started the program of the educational seminars, organized with the generous help from the grant of the Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund. The seminars are helping the leadership and members of the Progressive Jewish congregations in Ukraine to acquire the deeper knowledge of Jewish culture, traditions and practices. This program is scheduled to continue in year 2004 as well.

Iryna Zakhozha, a native of Kiev and a graduate of the LBC-CJE MA in Jewish Education program, have started in August 2003 to work for the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine and for the World Union for Progressive Judaism in FSU as a Jewish education expert. Ms. Zakhozha is responsible for organizing educational activities in Kiev and Ukraine and also for creation and implementation of the innovative Jewish educational programs for the Progressive congregation in the FSU.

COMMUNITY WORKERS

Alla Magas, a native of Poltava, has returned to her hometown after a year of studies in Machon – Institute for Modern Judaism in Moscow. Alla’s congregation, Beth Am is twinned with Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California, which provides significant support for the Progressive Jewish life in Poltava.

NETZER

The seminar for future Netzer camp counselors – madrichim- was organized in Kiev. Almost sixty young people participated in the four-day seminar, which was organized and led by the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine and Netzer Olami – Reform Zionist Youth. Activities during the seminar where led by the Chief Rabbi of the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Ukraine Alexander Dukhovny, FSU Netzer coordinator Alex Kagan and Belarus Netzer coordinator Natalia Yoffe. Participants studied the history of Reform Judaism, Jewish tradition and festivals and took part in the creative activities based on the Torah stories and midrashim.

BELARUS

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

In November of 2003 Baranovitchi (Western Belarus) Congregation for Progressive Judaism “Tchiya” has received a wonderful gift – a Torah scroll that was donated by Avril and Vivian Zelin, of London and California, in memory of their late father, Abraham Zelin, who passed away in April of 2003. The scroll was brought from California and presented to the congregation in the course of wonderful moving ceremony. Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Belarus would like to thank the Belorussian Office of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jewry and Bay Area Council for Jewish Rescue and Renewal for making this occasion possible. This Sefer Torah is the fifth scroll that is being donated to the Progressive congregations in Belarus.

In December of 2003 Rabbi Grisha Abramovich was officially installed as a Chief Rabbi of the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Belarus. Rabbi Abramovich, a native of Minsk, has started his journey to the Jewish life as a member of the youth group of congregation “Simcha” in Minsk some ten years ago. He was ordained in July 2003 and became the fifth FSU-born rabbi to receive a rabbinical ordination in Leo Back College in London. Rabbi Joel Oseran, Associate Director of the WUPJ, who was participating in the ceremony, has delivered to Rabbi Abramovich a message of congratulation from WUPJ.

EDUCATION

In May of 2003 almost 40 boys and girls from nine Progressive congregations in Belarus has participated in the ceremony of bar and bat-mitzvah, that was held during the three-day long family retreat, organized by the Religious Union for Progressive Judaism in Belarus. These children bring the total number of “bna’i-mitzvah” that celebrated their Jewish coming-of-age ceremony in Belorussian Progressive Movement to almost 150.
The first ceremonies took place in 1999 and by now the movement has developed a cadre of professional bna’i-mitzvah tutors and counselors who every year work with more then 30 children in different Progressive congregation in the country.

NETZER

The 2003 were truly a year of triumph for the Netzer – the Reform Zionist Youth in Belarus. The Netzer team has for the first time in it’s history won a covetable first place on the International Purimshpiel Festival in Vitebsk, bringing the 1000-place festival hall to the standing ovation after their performance. The summer Netzer camp was the most popular camp ever in the history of the movement, with more then 250 children ages 13 to 17 signing in for the weeklong experience of Progressive Jewish life. The winter camp of 2004 brought together 100 teenagers from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus with a three-country strong counselor staff.

COMMUNITY WORKERS

Two new community workers have started their fieldwork experience in the office of the Belorussian Union for Progressive Judaism in Minsk. Both of them are the alumni of the Netzer movement and prior to their studies in the Machon have been very active in the Progressive movement in Belarus. Natalia Kaplan has become a Union’s coordinator of the educational projects and Natalia Ehlman is responsible for the congregational development.